Aerial bomb



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AERIAL BOMB 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 17. 1952 2,796,621 Patented June 18, 1957 AERIAL BOIWB Aaron Samuel Berlin, Wilmington, Bel., and Seth Q. Kline, Bel Air, Norton J. Levenson, Baltimore, and Fred B. Shaw, Jr., Towson, Md.

Application November 17, 1952, Serial No. 321,064

8 Claims. (Cl. 102 7.2)

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to bombs of the type wherein a plurality of small bombs are assembled as a single unit which is adapted to be carried and dropped from aircraft as a single unit, and which upon detonation in mid air is broken into a plurality of small bombs which are dispersed over a wide area.

It is an object of this invention to provide an airbornetype, cluster bomb which employs the principle of nose ejection.

t is another object of this invention to provide an airborne-type, cluster bomb of the nose ejection variety wherein nose ejection of the cluster is made possible by the utilization of a separable joint between the cluster and the casing.

it is still another object of this invention to provide an airborne-type, cluster. bomb of the nose ejection variety wherein the cluster is secured to the casing by a frangible joint, and wherein structure is provided for breaking-said joint and forcing said cluster'out of the casing.

lt is a further object of this invention to provide an airborne-type, cluster bomb wherein the cluster of bombs is maintained as a unit prior to being inserted into the casing and wherein the means for so maintaining said bombs are removed in the step of inserting the bundle into the casing.

it is a still further object of this invention to provide an airborne-type, cluster bomb wherein the casing is of such rugged construction that it is unnecessary to pack it in a shipping container when transporting said bomb casing, and wherein said casing is water-proof and vprovides complete protection for the cluster of child bombs.

The above and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. i is a longitudinal, sectional View of the bomb.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the bomb with the casing thereof broken away and some parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the relative position of the parts after the bomb has been detonated.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing one of the cluster, strap joints prior to the cluster being inserted in the bomb casing.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the major elements of the cluster, strap joint shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line of Fig. 7.

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken generally on line N bf Fig. 9, ytaken during the step inassembling the bomb when the cluster is inserted into the casing.

Fig. 1l is a fragmentary, sectional View of the front 2 end of the bomb showing the relative position of the parts as the cluster is forced out of the casing after the bomb has been detonated.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bomb 10 generally comprises body portion 12 and tail portion 13. The body portion 1'2y comprises cylindrical casing 14 having dished wall 16 formed at its end adjacent to the tail section, which has a chambered, mounting fixture 18 secured therein. Casing 14 may be made of metal or a plastic material, such as glass-fiber reinforced, polyester resins. Fixture 18 comprises a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion 19 which receives threaded cap 20 thereon which in turn carries a plurality of primer detonators 22 threaded into tapped holes 23; a radially, inwardly, extending wall 24 formed therein midway thereof which in turn supports a spider-'like cage 26; a radially, outwardly, extending wall 25 which is secured to wall 16 in a conventional manner; and a forwardly extending, cylindrical portion 2S, the purpose of which will subsequently become apparent. Casing 14'carries clamp supporting rods 30 which support clamps 32 (see Figs. l, 4 and 5). These clamps are utilized as gripping means when moving the bomb as a unit prior to its being released from the aircraft.

Each primer detonator 22 is provided with a striker nut 33 which carries a exible or frangible plate 35, which in turn carries a striker 37.

Tail portion 13 comprises generally conically-shaped, tail body 34 which has an annular, mounting portion 36 Vformed on its forward end which is adapted to be mounted on seating led'ge38 formed on the rearward periphery of casing 14 by a friction joint or its equivalent. Tail body '34 includes fuze adapters 40, each of which receives a fuze 42, which may be of the conventional, electrical or mechanical, time fuze variety. YTail body 34 also includes tins 44 and annular stabilizer 46 (see Fig. 1) which are positioned on its rearward end. The

rearward end of tail body 34 is closed by apertured,

dished wall 48 and strengthening discs 50 and 52. Within tail body 34 and approximately midway thereof, an -apertured wall 54 is secured. Apertured wall 54 supports apertured, dished plate 56 on its forward side for a purpose which will subsequently become apparent.

VSecured within the casing 14 is the cluster of child bombs 58. In order to understand the operation of this bomb, it is necessary to understand the manner in which 'the cluster of small, `child bombs 58 are clustered together prior to their insertion in the :casing 14 as a unit. Bombs 58 form a substantially, cylindrical cluster and are secured together as a unit prior to their insertion into the casing 14 by a plurality of cluster bars 60, a buckle bar 62, straps 64 (see Fig. 5), front end plate 102, rear end plate 104 and pressure plate 106 (see Fig. 1). Cluster bars 60 are elongated, generally channel-shaped members, the channel of which describes 1/2 of the periphery of a hexagon. The axial extremities of each cluster bar 60 have perpendicular tabs 66 formed thereon which are secured to `and support a bearing plate 114 at each end of each bar (see Figs. 1 and 4). The purpose of tabs 66 and their associated bearing plates 114 will be subsequently explained. Buckle bar 62 comprises the same type of the channel-shaped bar as the cluster bars, but includes in addition a plurality'of buckles 68 secured lthereto at spaced points. The structure of buckles 68 andthe manner in which they cooperate with the straps 64 can best be seen in Figs. 5 to l0. Referring particularly to Fig. 5, each of the straps 64 comprises a bottom strap 70 and top strap 72. Bottom strap 70 has a bent end `74 that passes through the slot 76 of the buckle 68 (see Figs. 7 to 9). The bottom strap 70 extends `around the cluster of child bombs, contacting several of the cluster bars 60, to apoint where it is connected to upper strap 72 by connector 78 (see Figs. 4 and 5). The connector 78, however, is not secured to the ends of bottom strap 70 and the upper strap 72 until said upper strap has been connected to the buckle 68 and strapped around the cluster to the point where it joins lower strap 70, at which time the connection is made.

One of the novel features of my invention is the manner in which bent end 80 of upper strap 72 is secured to the buckle 68. As can be best seen in Fig. 8, buckle'68 has a bracket 82 formed thereon. Bracket 82 'comprises bent back wall 84 that supports side walls 86 perpendicular thereto. The end of back wall 84 is curved and forms a cylinder 88 that is positioned between the side walls 86 and which receives securing pin 89 which also passes through openings in the side walls 86 'and is secured therein to maintain the bracket parts in assembled position. Side walls 86 have portions cut out of them which leave curved walls 87 that culminate in projections 90 on said side walls. Bent end 80 of upper strap 72 carriesa clevis pin 92 in the loop thereof which is adapted to be positioned in the vicinity of the curved walls 87 of side walls 86 (see Fig. 9) and receive a buckle release 94 which maintains the parts in assembled relationship prior to the cluster being inserted in the casing.V The buckle releases 94 each compriseV a pin portion 96 and an angle-shaped base 98 (see Fig. 8).

Y The position of the various parts of the strap coupling Y prior to insertion of the cluster in the casing is shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10 (in solid lines). In this position the pin portion 96 of buckle release 94 is inserted through clevis pin 92 and received within the cut out portions of the side walls 86 and have contact with curved walls 87.

* As can be best seen in Fig. 9, the base 98 of each buckle release 94 projects laterally out of what can nominally be called the outline of the cluster. When the cluster is inr serted into the casing 14 the leading edge 128 of said casing (see Fig. 10) contacts the base 98 of each of the buckle releases 94, as the buckle with which said buckle release is associated passes into the casing, and urges said buckle release to the position shown in dotted lines wherein4 they are fully out of their associated `clevis pins, thereby Y permitting them to fall away from the casing. At this point, the buckle releases have performed their function of temporarily maintaining the child bombs as a cluster prior to its being inserted into the casing. After being fully seated within the casing, the straps 64 remain positioned about the cluster of child bombs (see Figs. 1, 2 and being retained in such position by the vcasing wall 14.

Y At this stage, the straps 64 donot actuallyVhold the child bombstogether as a unit any longer, for the casing 14 has taken over that function. Further, at this time, there is actually no connection between the bent end 80 of the upper strap 72 and the bracket 82, therefore the cluster is in a condition 'whereby upon being ejected out of the casing, the straps will not maintain it as a unit, but it will be free to open up and release the individual child bombs. K Y

Referring to Fig. l, the structure which cooperates to produce the cluster is shown mounted within the casing, however, it should be realized that it is a unitary structure prior to being inserted into the-casing. This cluster structure comprises the clustered, child bombs 58, the central pipe 100, the cluster bars 60, the buckle bar 62,

. the straps 64, the front end plate 102 (which is secured to the forward ends of cluster bars 60), the rear end plate 104 (which is secured to the rearward ends of the cluster bars) and pressure plate 106.V An appropriate number of' circular disc, shims 178 are positioned between the bombs and the rear end plate. Still referring to vFig. l, it will be seen that front end plate 102 has a groove 108 in its peripheral edge which isfadapted to receive the tabs 66 and their associated bearing plates 114 on the forward ends of the cluster bars 60. ,Rear end plate 104 carries a rearwardly extending, threaded, mounting member 110 centrally thereof, and has its Vperiphery offset at 112. Said offset portion V112 has channel-shaped portions cut out of its periphery and is adapted to receive therein and embrace the rearward ends of complementary, channel-shaped, cluster bars 60 and buckle bar 62 and to be positioned on the forward side of the tabs 66 and their associated bearing plates 114. Pressure plate 106 comprises a flat, plunger plate 116 having an opening 118 formed therein, which is adapted to slip over threaded mounting member 110, and a smaller, disc 120 that is secured to plate 116 on the rearward side thereof and spaced therefrom by short legs 122. Disc 120 has an aperture 124 formed therein which is adapted to loosely surround the threaded portion 126 of the threaded member 110. When positioned about mounting member 110, the pressure plate 106 contacts the central part of rear plate 104, and the periphery thereof contacts the rearward side of bearing plates 114. As can be best seen in Fig. l, the periphery of rear end plate 104 and the periphery of pressure plate 106 form a rim-like groove that receives the tabs 66, and their associated bearing plates 114, that are formed on the rearward ends of the cluster bars.

The above-defined structure, with the exception of pressure plate 106, comprises the unitary cluster prior to its being inserted in the casing. It should be recalled that at this time each of the cluster straps 64 tightly embrace the cluster of child bombs and retain them as a single unit due to the fact that the bent ends 80 of the upper straps 72 are positively connected to the buckle 68 by the buckle releases 94. To insert the cluster into the casing, the cluster is placed on a stand with the front end plate 102 resting on the stand and the rear end of the cluster facing upwardly. At this stage, the cluster presents its rear end plate 104 with its associated mounting member 110, and threaded portion 126 of threaded member 110 upwardly. Pressure plate 106 with its associated disc 120 is then placed in position. At this point, split nut 130 is threaded onto the threaded portion 126 of the threaded A member 110. Split nut 130 as can best be seen in Figs. l

and 2 comprises a generally cylindrical member which is internally threaded at 132. Split nut 130 has `a plurality of axial slots 136 formed therein which extend from the Y upper end thereof approximately four fifths of the length leading edge 128 of casing 14 contacts the base 98 of the buckle release in the uppermost strap 64 (see Fig. 10), it forces said buckle release out of its associated clevis pin 92. By the time the casing 14 fully surrounds the cluster the following will have occurred: all of the buckle releases 94 will have been removed from their associated clevis pins, and each of the cluster straps 64 will have been unbuckled. The periphery of the pressure plate 106 will have made contact with the periphery of the forward side of wall 16 and the positioning cylinder 28, and the split nut 130 will be positioned within the cage 26, and contact the underside of the apertured, upper wall 27 thereof. The cap 20 is then screwed on and detonators 22 with their striker nuts in place are then inserted. The tail portion 13 is then placed over the body portion 12, the portion 36 of the tail jacket 34 seating on the seating ledge 38 of the casing 14. Prior to f being mounted on the body portion 12, the tail portion 144.in theupper wall 27 of the. cageY 26`v and secured in the split nut-130. The threadedportion 146 on'the'forward end of rod 140 cooperates with` the internally threaded portion 132 of split nut 130 to effect this joint. Threaded portion 148 on the rearward end of rod 140 projects above the tail plate 48 and receives washer 15,0 and securing nut 152. The tail securing rod.140 performs the dual function of mounting the tail portion 13 on the body portion 12, and of constituting the sole connection between the cluster and the casing. This connection being the threaded joint madeVV by split nut 130 and securing rod 140. At thisstage, the cluster is secured within the casing and all that remains to be done is to insert the sealing gasket 154 in the recess formed by the inner side of the leading edge 128 of the casing 14and the portion 156of front end plate102 of reduced diameter (see Fig. l). The, cluster nose 158, which has annular rib 160 formed thereon. is secured to the front end plate 102 by bolts 162y which pass through openings 164 formed in the cluster nose and which are received in threaded openings 166 formed in the front end plate 102.. The annular rib 160 contacts the sealing ring 154 and cooperates therewith to effect an airtight joint between the front end plate 102 and the casing.

An alternate assembly method which is highly advantageous will now be described. The cluster is formed and the casing lowered into place in the manner described above. A cap screw is screwed into split nut 130, so that its head engages the top 27 of cage 26. This secures the casing to the cluster. A rubber gasket is placed inside cap 20, covering holes 23 and 142. The rear end of the casing is thereby rendered watertight. The casing is then inverted, gaskets 154 placed in position and cluster nose 158 bolted into place. The casing and cluster is now a watertight structurel which needs no packaging and can be handled as a unit. Moreover, since the detonating mechanism is not part of the assembly it is relatively safe to handle.

The tail portion is then assembledV as a separate unit omitting fuzes 42 but including primacord 176. The tail assembly, the rod 140 and detonators, 22 arepackaged and shipped to the point of use. At this point, the gasket is cut from cap 20 uncovering holes 23 and detonators 22 are screwed in. The tail assembly is Vthen secured to the bomb body 13 by rod 140 and fuzesV 42 are inserted. The bomb is then ready for use.

By referring to Figs. l and ll, it will be seen that the forward end of each cluster bar 60 has an opening 168 formed therein which has a tube 170 secured therein. Prior to the cluster being inserted in the casing, but after the cluster has been secured as a single unit by the cluster straps 64, a compression spring 172 is positioned in each of the tubes 170, compressed therein, and a cap 174 secured on said tube. It will be observed that each of the compression springs 172 will be held under compression by a portion of the bomb 58 adjacent to each of the tubes 170 and said tubes respective cap 174. The purpose of this arrangement of structure will become apparent from the description of the operation of the bomb after it has been dropped from the aircraft.

Upon being dropped from the aircraft the following events transpire:

Fuzes 42 set oi the explosive cord 176 which drives strikers 37 into the prime detonators 22 causing a substantial explosion within the xture 18, the effect of which is shown in Fig. 6. The unnumbered arrows in Fig. 6 are intended to generally indicate the direction of the force of said explosion. The pressure of the explosion against disc 120 forces it against the central part of plunger plate 116 and causes the periphery of 4the plate 116 to move rearwardly away from the bearing plates 114 on the rearward ends of cluster bars 60, and has the effect of widening the groove formed by the peripheries of the end plate 104 and the plunger plate 116. It also exerts av force on the plunger plate 116 which causes said i plunger plate'to actas a piston and forcethe entire cluster out of the nose end of the casing 14. In doing this, the joint between the internally threaded fingers 137 of the split nut and threaded end 146 of the rod 140 is forcibly broken. As can be clearly seen in Fig. 6, the split nut is` distorted from its original shape by the force of the action.

By referringto Fig. ll, the events which occur after the nose end of the cluster is forced out of the nose end of the casing will be seen. The compression spring 172 forces the forward ends of the cluster bars 60 laterally, away from the cluster. The cluster straps 64 offer no resistance against this movement because they were unbuckled when the cluster was inserted in the casing. As the forward end of each cluster bar is moved away from the cluster. of bombs, its associated. tabs 66.- and bearing plate 114 leaves the groove 108 formed inthe front end plate 102. This permits the frontend plate 102, and the cluster nose 158` to which it is attached, to fall free of the bombs and bomb casing. As the cluster proceeds out of` the' casing.V 14 and each succeeding cluster strap 64 clearsftheleadingjedge 128 of said casing, it springs away from the bombs 58. When the cluster is completely out ofthe casing 14, the` tabs 66 and their associated plates 114- on the rearward end of each of the cluster bars 60 will fall out of the groove formed by the peripheries of the plunger plate 116 and the rear end plate 104. When this occurs, the rea-r end plate, theV plunger. plate and each of the cluster bars 60 fall free of the child bombs 58, which are then permitted to individually disperse into an effective pattern.

Havingl fully described the structure, assembly, and operation of our invention, it is desired to reiterate the two salient features of our invention. First, we have provided a cluster assembly that facilitates the clustering of bombs and their handling as a single unit prior to their insertion in a bomb casing. This is accomplished through the means of our unique, cluster straps, and particularly the novel buckling arrangement which effects a single unit prior to insertion of the cluster in the casing and which permits unrestricted dispersal of thechild bombs after insertion and ejection of the cluster out of the casing. The heart of this buckling arrangementis our novel buckle release. The second salient feature of our invention comprises the structure and manner in which the cluster is secured to the bomb casing by a single joint which is adapted to be broken and thereby permit the cluster to be ejected out of the casing.

The above outstanding improvements over the prior art prominently stand out and constitute two of the major assets of our invention, however, the fact should not be overlooked that the overall construction and assembly of this bomb satisfies the objects of this invention by providing an improved, airborne-type cluster bomb wherein: (l) the construction is so rugged as to permit the shipping of the bomb body portion without a shipping container, (2) the construction is waterproof and therefore provides complete protection for the child bombs, (3) the bomb has good flight characteristics and a good dispersion pattern, and (4) nose ejection of the child bombs is made possible.

Having described our invention in great detail it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the precise structure shown as they are many slight changes that may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention nor the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A bomb cluster unit comprising a front end plate, a rear end plate, a cluster of elongated bombs longitudinally positioned between said end plates in contiguous relationship to each other and to each of said plates, a plurality of longitudinal cluster bars engaging the exterior of said cluster, said cluster bars removably engaging said end plates in such a manner as to prevent displacement of.

Vsaid end plates relative tosaid cluster when said cluster bars are held in position, at least one strap encircling said cluster and constituting the sole means holding said cluseach said strap, said joining means comprising a longitudinally removable pin, and engaging means on each said pin projecting radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said cluster unit whereby when said unit is inserted into a casing each said pin will be removed,'thereby rendering said joiningY means inoperative. l

2. A bomb cluster unit as defined in claim 1 and further comprising radial aperture means extending through each of saidV cluster bars, a spring within each said aperture means and engaging a portion of said cluster, and a cap on the exterior of each said aperture means inaintaining said spring under compression.

3. A bomb cluster unit as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said end plates comprises an outer transverse surface and each of said cluster bars comprises a radially inwardly extending bearing plate at Veach end, each of said bearing plates engaging one of said transverse surfaces.

4. yA bomb cluster unit as `defined in claim 1 and further comprising an axially positioned threaded mounting member extending from said rear end plate.

5. A bomb body unit comprising a casing having side walls and a rear end, said side walls being imperforate and said rear end being imperforate except for a central opening, a front end plate tightly closing the front end of said casing, a cluster of bombs within said casing, means held in place by said casing securing said end plate to said cluster, connecting means on the rear end of said cluster and positioned within said central. opening for securing said cluster to said casing, and a cover secured to said casing and covering said central opening.

6. A bomb body as defined in claim 5 in which said means securing said front end plate to said cluster com- Yprises a rear end plate engaging the rear end of said cluster, a plurality of cluster bars positioned'about the periphery of said cluster in contact with said casing and means on the ends of said cluster bars removably engaging said front end plate and rear end plate in such a manner as to prevent separation thereof, said cluster bars and plates being held in engagement substantially solely by said casing.

7. A cluster bomb comprising a casing having side walls and a rear end, said side walls being imperforate and said rear en-d being imperforate except for a central opening, a cluster of bombs within said casing, afront end plate closing the front end of said casing, means held in place by said casing securing said front end plate to said cluster, a connecting'means mounted on the rear Yend of said clusterand positioned within said central opening, joining means lhaving a breakable connection withrsaid connecting means extending through said central opening Vand fastening said connection to said casing, a piston plate contacting the rear end of said cluster, covering substan- -tially theentire interior cross section of said casing, and vslidable in said casing, a cover for said central opening,

and means for creating an explosion in the space bounded -by said rear end, said cover, and said piston plate of sufcient force Vto rupture said` breakable connection and force said cluster and front end plate out of said casing.

8. A cluster bomb comprising a casing having side walls and a rear end, said side walls being imperforate and said rear end being imperforate except for a single central opening; a cluster of bombs within said casing, a front end plate closing the front end of said casing, releasable means held in place substantially solely by said casing connecting said front en-d plate to said cluster; a tail section having a front end abutting the rear end of said casing, a rod engaging the rear end of said tail section and extending through said central opening, connecting means forming a breakable *connection between said rod and said cluster; a piston plate engaging the rear end of said cluster and .subsantially coextensive with the interior cross section of said casing, a cover for said central opening; detonating means mounted on said cover and vconstructed and arranged to produce, within the space bounded by said rear end, said piston plate and said cover, an explosion of suicient magnitude to rupture Said breakable connection and force said cluster out of said casing; and at least one fuze mounted on said tail section constructed and arranged to explode said detonating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

